Many writers benefited from this past weekend’s Bookstock Memphis Area Author’s Festival at the Benjamin L. Hooks Library at 3030 Poplar Ave. The event took place from 10:30 am to 3:30pm. It was a family event with scavenger hunts for kids, a food truck outside as well as book signings and cooking demos inside.

There were many different genres of books to choose from including Christian and faith based books, horror suspense novels and domestic abuse memoirs.

All of the authors were from Memphis and showcasing their first or second book.

“Today has been great," Sherri Scott, a local author promoting her first book, said. "I’ve met some very nice people. I’ve sold some books and I’ve been able to get out my message of abstinence to teens.”

Scotts book, “Never Cast Your Pearls,” is a story about a young girl name Taylor that battles peer pressure in an attempt to keep the values her mother has instilled in her. The main character was inspired by her own daughter, named Taylor as well.

Another successful book at the festival came from Beverly Dunn called, “Love Incarcerated.”

“I felt it was necessary to share my story," Dunn said. "I was in a very abusive relationship with my ex-husband, and one day I found out who he really was when I saw him on an episode of 'America’s Most Wanted.'”

There were children’s books and a scavenger hunt at the event as well. Participants were given clues and questions and had to travel around to each of the authors and see if their book was the answer to the clues and riddles.

“At first I didn’t want to come to the library but I ended up having fun with the scavenger hunt and I got to buy a book about the presidents," DeAndre Carrick, a nine-year-old attendee of Bookstock, said.

There was a good turnout for the festival despite the rain. For more information on being part of this event next year or participating in others just like it, contact Wang Ying, the director of Adult Services at the Benjamin L. Hooks Library.